mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: That their Windows 10 PC is running slowly and…
A user reports that their Windows 10 PC is running slowly and the hard drive light is constantly active. You suspect the indexing service is consuming resources. Which Control Panel applet allows you to modify which folders are indexed, or to rebuild the index?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between managing a service's behavior (Indexing Options) versus managing the service's running state (Services.msc), leading candidates to choose Administrative Tools > Services when the question specifically asks about modifying indexed folders or rebuilding the index.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Indexing Options
The Indexing Options applet (C) is the correct Control Panel tool for managing the Windows Search index. It allows you to add or remove folders from the index and provides a button to rebuild the index, which can resolve performance issues caused by a corrupted or overly broad index. The constantly active hard drive light indicates the indexing service is actively processing files, and modifying or rebuilding the index directly addresses this resource consumption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
File Explorer Options
Why it's wrong here
File Explorer Options primarily manages the visual presentation and basic search behaviors within File Explorer, such as showing hidden files, file extensions, and default folder views. While it influences how search results are displayed or filtered within the File Explorer interface, it does not provide any direct controls for modifying the scope of the Windows Search indexing database or initiating a rebuild of the index itself.
- ✗
System > Advanced system settings > Performance
Why it's wrong here
The 'System > Advanced system settings > Performance' section is dedicated to optimizing system responsiveness and visual aesthetics. It allows users to adjust settings like visual effects (e.g., animations, shadows), virtual memory size, and processor scheduling for background services. These configurations are focused on overall system performance and appearance, having no direct impact on the content, integrity, or rebuilding process of the Windows Search indexing database.
- ✓
Indexing Options
Why this is correct
Indexing Options is the dedicated control panel applet for managing the Windows Search service's indexing process. It provides comprehensive tools to specify which folders and file types are included or excluded from the search index, modify advanced indexing settings, and crucially, rebuild the entire search index database. Rebuilding the index is a common troubleshooting step to resolve issues like slow searches, incomplete results, or index corruption.
- ✗
Administrative Tools > Services
Why it's wrong here
The Administrative Tools > Services console allows administrators to manage the operational state of all services installed on the system, including the 'Windows Search' service. While it enables starting, stopping, pausing, resuming, or configuring the startup type for this service, it does not offer any functionality to modify the specific folders being indexed, change file type inclusions, or initiate a rebuild of the search index database. Its scope is limited to service lifecycle management.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Editions and Features
Key term
Control Panel
Control Panel is a central graphical interface in Windows operating systems used to configure system settings, manage hardware, and control user preferences.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
About these practice questions
One of 495 original 220-1202 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.